Zeitgeist
Posted on July 27, 2007 at 08:58 PM EST
Since the Smashing Pumpkins broke up in 2000, Billy Corgan has hardly been hiding. He formed a short-lived band called Zwan, wrote a book of poetry, and released a solo album TheFutureEmbrace. The same day the album was released, he ran a newspaper-ad in the Chicago Tribune and announced that he wanted to revive the Smashing Pumpkins. Two years later the band’s sixth commercially-released studio album, Zeitgeist, was released.
Tracklist
- Doomsday Clock
- 7 Shades of Black
- Bleeding the Orchid
- That’s the Way (My Love Is)
- Tarantula
- Starz
- United States
- Neverlost
- Bring the Light
- (Come On) Let’s Go!
- For God and Country
- Pomp and Circumstance
Bonus Tracks
- Death from Above (Best Buy)
- Stellar (iTunes)
- Zeitgeist (Target)
Three special edition Zeitgeist albums were released that each contain a unique bonus track. They are exclusive only to Best Buy, iTunes, and Target. It is unclear if this decision was made by the band or record label, Reprise, but it just seems like a lame attempt to increase the overall number of albums that were sold.
The album has received mediocre reviews, which usually cite the lack of two of the original members, James Iha on guitar and D’Arcy Wretzky on bass. Corgan not only fronted the band but also wrote the majority of their songs. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin remained close to Corgan after the band’s breakup and was a member of Zwan and played drums on a few songs for TheFutureEmbrace. While it would have been be great if Iha and Wretzky were involved, it’s great that the Pumpkins are back and that Corgan and Chamberlin are still creating music together.
Zeitgeist has a sound that is familiar to some of their old music, despite the lack of half of the original lineup. Corgan’s razor-sharp solos and grinding chords remain utterly unique, while, Chamberlin thrashes impressively at his drums and continues to have the same enthusiasm of his younger self.
With songs such as “Doomsday Clock” and “God and Country”, along with lyrics like “I want to fight, I want to fight, A revolution tonight” from “United States”, the album’s political focus is extremely evident. It addresses the political and social upheavel that has occured since MACHINA: The Machines of God was released in 2000.
The illustration on the album cover, created by Obey Giant’s Shepard Fairey, is the Statue of Liberty being swallowed by the ocean. This seems to emphasize global warming due to the melting ice caps along with our country’s drowning civil liberties, in the blood of the fallen, no less.
This is the Pumpkins’ most aggressive metal album to date and should be a part of any Smashing Pumpkins’ fans’ collection. If you never liked their music before, then there really isn’t anything groundbreaking on this album that will help change your mind.
Zeitgeist Release Party at the 9:30 Club
On July 10, the day Zeitgeist was released, the Smashing Pumpkins had a “surprise” release party at the 9:30 Club. While it may have just been a coincidence, I believe they intended on having the event in Washington DC, since the album has such a strong political focus.
The first hundred people waiting to get into the show were given picketing signs that read, “I said YES to the mighty SP!” in a mock campaign for the Pumpkins’ return. Behind the crowd was a giant black and white Pumpkins flag that hung down from the roof of the 9:30 Club. A barbershop harmony quartet wearing red and white striped jackets sang to those waiting in line and also on stage just before the band came on the stage. Right before the show started, the band drove up in a a couple of antique limousines. I heard they had originally planned to do a video shoot, but decided to cancel it at the last minute.
I noticed something very strange when I got in line. The guy directly in front of me was the exact same guy who was right in front of me at the show that I attended in Asheville, NC. What are the odds? It’s a small world out there.
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Tagged with billycorgan, music, review, smashingpumpkins
1
Posted by James on August 08, 2007 EST
sounds like that guy always manages to do just a tad better than you lol